During the course of the war, the Native warriors used a wide range of weapons, including muskets, bayonets, rifles, pistols, bows, knives, tomahawks, clubs, swords and spears.

These weapons were generally furnished by the American and British armies. Between 1813 and 1816 the Indian Department of the British Army issued more than 26,000 firearms in the Great Lakes region. Almost half of the guns were muskets, although rifles, pistols and chief's guns (sporting-type guns with silver inlay decoration) were also distributed to Native allies.

The American army issued similar weapons to their Native allies although they were generally of poorer quality than the British ones. The U.S. Army tended to give away more rifles than muskets.